"I know that in the dark days ahead, there will be moments when it will seem all too much to have to deal with." - Michelle Smith de Bruin.

"Maybe I'm the happiest man here tonight, maybe I'm the luckiest man." - Mick McCarthy after Ireland's 1-0 win over Macedonia on Wednesday.

"I don't need doping to win races, I need hill climbs." - Mountain goat and former Tour de France winner Marco Pantani after failing a blood test in the Tour of Italy.